HARWICH and north Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin has backed the Prime Minister for not suspending his deputy in a row over alleged bullying.

Rishi Sunak is under growing pressure to explain what he knew about the allegations surrounding Dominic Raab before appointing him as deputy Prime Minister.

Downing Street would only rule out the Prime Minister being aware of "formal complaints" as reports suggested he had been warned about his ally's behaviour.

Mr Sunak was resisting demands from a civil servants' union to suspend Mr Raab while under investigation.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the PM of being "too weak" to act.

At a combative Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Sunak insisted he had appointed lawyer Adam Tolley KC to investigate when he learned of "formal complaints".

But reports have suggested Mr Sunak was warned about Mr Raab's conduct before appointing him as his deputy.

But his press secretary said: "The PM was not aware of any formal complaints at the time of appointing Dominic Raab."

Sir Keir highlighted reports suggesting "some of the complainants were physically sick, one says they were left suicidal".

Mr Sunak said: "When I was made aware of formal complaints I appointed a leading independent KC to conduct an investigation, because I take action when these things happen."

Sat next to the Prime Minister in the Commons, Mr Raab shook his head and muttered as the Labour leader questioned his appointment. Mr Raab has always denied bullying.

Senior Conservative MP Sir Bernard Jenkin backed Mr Sunak for not suspending Mr Raab while under investigation, saying he was "entitled to due process whatever the hullabaloo".

Sir Bernard said Mr Raab was a "demanding person to work with" but that officials should be prepared to work in very challenging situations.

"To an extent, if you're at the top of the Civil Service or working closely with ministers, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen to an extent," he told BBC Radio 4's World At One.

His comments came a day after senior Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg warned people against being "too snowflakey" about bullying allegations as he defended Mr Raab.